Venezuela: South Africa Condemns US Military Action, Calls for Urgent UN Security Meeting
By Kabir Akintayo
The Government of South Africa has expressed grave concern over the United States’ confirmation of a large-scale military strike against Venezuela, describing the action as a clear violation of international law and the United Nations Charter.
In a media statement issued on Friday by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), South Africa said the reported military operation, which allegedly led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife and their removal from the country, undermines the principles of state sovereignty and non-interference.
According to the statement, South Africa views the unilateral military action as a manifest breach of the UN Charter, which obliges member states to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.
“The Charter does not authorise external military intervention in matters that are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of a sovereign nation,” the government said.
The condemnation comes amid heightened global attention following reports that President Maduro was apprehended during the operation, a development that has sparked widespread diplomatic reactions and raised fears of regional instability in Latin America.
South Africa warned that history has consistently shown that military invasions of sovereign states often result in prolonged instability and deepening crises rather than sustainable solutions.
“Unlawful, unilateral force of this nature undermines the stability of the international order and the principle of equality among nations,” the statement added.
READ ALSO Jilli Airstrike: Supporters Of Terrorists Will Be Treated As Bandits, Defence Minister Warns Defence Minister Christopher Musa has warned that supporters of terrorists would be treated as criminals. He said this on Monday as he reacted to the airstrike carried out by the Nigerian Air Force airstrike in Jilli, Borno State, over the weekend. Speaking after an expanded security meeting in Kaduna with the state governor and heads of security agencies, Musa said the operation sends a clear message to those collaborating with terrorist groups. He stressed that anyone found supporting insurgents would face the same consequences as the perpetrators. “A friend of a thief is a thief,” he said, warning civilians against associating with or providing any form of assistance to terrorists. Musa urged residents to steer clear of areas known to be used by insurgents, noting that proximity or collaboration could have grave consequences. The airstrike, carried out near the village of Jilli in Gubio Local Government Area, targeted what the military described as an ISWAP enclave and logistics hub. According to the Nigerian Air Force, the operation was intelligence-driven and aimed at neutralising terror elements and destroying their equipment. However, reports have emerged alleging that the strike may have affected a weekly market in the area, with civilians, including cross-border traders, reportedly among casualties. Musa, however, maintained that the strike should serve as a strong warning to those aiding insurgent activities, reaffirming the military’s resolve to intensify operations against terrorist networks. Air Component of Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, conducted a precision air strike on a known terrorist enclave and logistics hub located near the abandoned village of Jilli in Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State. Giving an update on the airstrike, the Nigerian Army in a post on its official X handle said, “The successful strike, executed on 11 April 2026, followed sustained intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions over the Bindul–Jilli axis, an area long identified as a major terrorist movement corridor and convergence point for Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists and their collaborators.”
In response to the unfolding situation, Pretoria called on the United Nations Security Council to urgently convene and address the developments in Venezuela, stressing that the Council remains the body mandated to maintain international peace and security.
The statement was signed by the Ministry’s spokesperson, Mr Chrispin Phiri, and reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to multilateralism and the peaceful resolution of conflicts through established international mechanisms.
